At another camp, Ash and the others arrived, having taken down the men and Pokemon here. The slaves here had been freed from their terrible predicament and were given food by Nessa. They happily ate away, enjoying their meal. Misty smiled while Brock assisted Nessa in distributing food.
"Heheh! Nice job, Ash! You took them out with ease!" Goh complimented as Ash chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. Bea smiled, gazing at Ash.
"Master's strength is truly remarkable!" Bea stated while having a bright smile on her face. "There is nothing like it!"
"Ah geez...Thanks you guys." Ash thanked them for the compliments as Nessa approached them.
"Well, there are more camps out there, Star Champion. And by now, our actions may have reached the other camps and they might be ready for us." Nessa stated as Ash nodded.
"Yeah. No doubt about that." Ash agreed before looking towards the Lightstorm here. He could feel the power it radiated, finding it to be quite strange. "They're gonna start knowing all about us the more we go on."
"Wait that means..." Goh would piece it together before grimacing. "We'll be Wanted!"
"Most likely." Nessa nodded. "The Auravale Kingdom does rule a majority of the world after all. They could easily put a bounty on you or any of us for interfering with their plans."
"T-That can't be!" For Goh, he'd be wanted across the world which would make his life harder. He'd be the equivalent of a pirate or outlaw, only worse. He'd be wanted in many kingdoms and multiple empires, not a good thing to have.
"It's only natural." Misty added. "They control the kingdoms and empires of the world. When it comes to things they want done, they won't stop until they're done."
"Wanted...Across the world..." Goh trembled at that thought before looking to his idol. He'd sigh, not understanding his situation at all.
"Well, let's keep on moving." Ash stood up, ready to set out again as he placed his fist in his palm. "We'll clear every camp here and stop whatever they're building!"
"Wait, Star Champion. I want to at least make sure everyone that's been captured in these camps and the previous ones are getting home safe and sound. We still don't know what region this entire area is in." Misty said before pointing ahead. "If I can find an entrance out here, I can guarantee that they'll all find a way out of here."
"Hm. Yeah, good point." Ash crossed his arms, nodding in understanding along with Pikachu. "So, I guess we'll meet up again. Anyone else going with her? How about you, Goh?" Ash looked over at him, raising an eyebrow.
"Um...No thanks. I'll pass." Goh refused as Misty huffed. "I think It's best if I stay around you, Star Champion. It's safer that way. No doubt every camp is keeping an eye out for you. At some point, more and more of them will find out about you."
"Yeah. Makes sense." Ash said before looking over at Nessa and Bea. "How about you two?"
"If it's fine, Master. I would rather stay with you." Bea explained. "I can protect Master and the others. And besides, I can't stay with Nessa all the time. I have to know if Master is in danger."
"Bea." Nessa gazed at her, a bit sad by her response. Bea faced her, a sad expression on her face. "Alright...Fine. I trust you with them. Just make sure they all come back home safe."
"Of course." Bea hugged Nessa who returned the gesture, reciprocating it. "Don't worry. I'll come back."
"I'll take her back, Misty." Brock volunteered, following after Misty. Ash nodded, appreciative that they were helping out.
"Thanks you guys." Ash gave them a thumbs up. Misty turned to Brock before saying something to him.
"Take care of her, Brock." Misty placed her hand on Brock's shoulder.
"Will do." Brock nodded, smiling softly as Misty ran off, having to figure out where that entrance was at. That left the other trainers along with the three slaves who came along with them.
"Um..." Goh looked over at the three slaves who have their collars broken. They had been freed from their task and now had a choice of doing what they wanted. "You guys should head home with Nessa. This place is getting dangerous."
"But our village..." One of the slaves seemed hesitant to leave, given what happened. "W-We can't go back. Our village has been destroyed. We have no home to return to. No place to go."
"Which Region do you all come from them?" Ash asked.
"Each of us come from the Hoenn Kingdom." The female slave replied, the small redhead gazing up at him. "It is far away from here."
"It's where we were snatched and brought here. We were forced to march across regions." Another slave said. The third one stepped forward, approaching Ash.
"Please..." She bowed her head as Ash knelt down, wondering what was going on. He held the girl's shoulder, looking her in the eye. The girl looked at him, a sense of hope appearing in her eyes.
Ash raised an eyebrow before the other slaves stepped forward, having a bit of hope in their hearts.
"We would like to travel with you!" All three of them requested. "Please let us come with you! There's no where for us to go! No one else is gonna help us like you did!"
"Um...I don't know about that." Ash was a bit hesitant on this, aware that their journey was going to become dangerous. But for him, he was willing to take on the risk of those who wanted to travel with him.
"Hey, he saved us after all." One of the slaves remarked, gazing at her friend. "He's worth trusting."
"Oh?" The little girl tilted her head, staring at him.
"You guys are welcome to come along." Ash accepted their request as the girl beamed. The two adults smiled, feeling honored that Ash had accepted their offer. Nessa herself was a bit perplexed that Ash accepted their request. Ash rose to his feet.
"It's up to you guys if you wanna come along. I'm not gonna force you. Alright." Ash gave them a quick heads up as they nodded. Ash looked over at his Pokemon who nodded as well, knowing that they had to protect the slaves no matter what.
And so, it was settled. Misty, Bea and Brock had left this place to assist the many enslaved villagers who were working here. Now it was a matter of time before their message reached the other camps. And not only that, they'd have to figure out where they were too.
"Well, alright then." Ash clapped his hands together, preparing to depart to the next area. "Let's keep moving!"
"Already on it, Ash." With that, the group departed. Ash knew that this was only the beginning. A new journey has commenced for him and it was only going to get more dangerous from here on out.
"Um, Star Champion. Won't it be rather tricky having all of them following us? It was a bit manageable when it was just our previous group...but how will we get around at an easier pace? The ship is also beyond repair." Nessa asked as Ash chuckled.
"Yeah, good point! It's gonna be way harder with this!" Ash laughed as Pikachu sighed, shaking his head. He was one crazy Trainer but Goh was willing to see where this took him.
"Looks like we're gonna have to find an even bigger ship! Maybe some sort of pirate ship!" Ash hoped, trying to add excitement to the train of thought. The slaves weren't as receptive to that thought, just wanting a nice safe journey.
As Ash was standing with his friends and the rescued slaves, his excitement was for something that he knew he would have to deal with sooner or later. While he enjoyed his freedom, he didn't want to live his life always looking over his shoulder. Finding a bigger ship was definitely something that was up in the air.
But for now, he was going to have to keep an eye on everyone else until they can find something else to transport themselves across the vast oceans. This may have been a short start to his trip but the dangers that laid ahead was sure to test him and his abilities.
Walking around the forested land, Gary would drive his Arcane Rider while seeing many camps appearing out of nowhere. They seemed to have shown up once Gary had started showing his face. Before, none of them would've existed. But Gary began appearing, and many camps had been set up in this region, all of them making the Scape Crushers.
"Man, there sure is a bunch of them out here. They must've been working for a long time in this place." Gary spoke as Umbreon flicked its ear while Arcanine let out a huff. His supporters on top of his rider cheered him on, smiling as they traveled in this vibrant land.
He could see the mountains in the distance and a few other signs of civilizations outside the camps. Which made Gary curious. "Hey! The question here is what region this is. Is it Johto or what...?" Gary questioned before spotting something ahead.
It appeared to be a fallen ruin, standing over a beautiful lake. "Huh...This place looks pretty cool. Maybe there are some ruins over here. Could learn a bit about this place." Gary stated, gazing upon the land ahead.
As his followers followed Gary from behind, he would feel something odd. He'd take notice of this, stopping his Rider for a moment. He sat atop of his ride, crossing his arms. Arcanine and Umbreon would look over, wondering why their trainer stopped. Gary pondered this before gazing at his followers who appeared to be gazing at him with uncertainty.
"Oh, Gary, I'm scared!" One of them cried out, trying to pose suggestively and strike a seductive pose, emphasizing her backside. Gary looked away as some of them flew on their Rides to be near him.
"Something wrong, Gary?" Another follower asked, wishing to be closer to the tall young man. Gary hummed, shifting his eyes. He'd close his eyes, realizing something was coming. The evil Aura Energy was flowing, radiating within a strong degree that Gary could feel from here. He'd open his eyes, looking back.
Other Arcane Riders were approaching. Gary wasn't the only one in possession of an Arcane Rider. Some masked men rode on their own Rides, approaching Gary from behind. He'd glance back, sighing before cracking his knuckles. This was surely going to be fun.
"Guess they're looking for me, eh?" Gary grinned, stepping off his Ride, telling his Pokemon to prepare themselves. "Ready for battle you two? Then go! Blastoise!" Gary sent out his signature Pokemon, the Pokemon slamming the ground as the other Masked Men got off their Rides, gazing at the Prodigal Trainer.
Gary held his arms out, showing a smirk while the rest of his followers went into defensive formation. They knew they had to do something here. "Well! Is this all you want to do?!" Gary challenged, preparing for battle.
As a few of the masked men called out their Pokemon, they saw a small flash in the distance. Gary turned, looking straight towards the source. He was unable to see what was going on, but was able to tell that something was coming. Or rather, someone.
There was another Arcane Rider approaching, flying up the hill and towards Gary. It appeared to be a woman, who wore no mask unlike the Masked Men. Instead, her face was out in the open.
And it was none other than May. "Hmmm?" Gary raised his eyebrow as May was riding an Arcane Rider. Her Blaziken was seen, riding with her on the Arcane Rider. "Who's that?"
May would would bring her Arcane Rider to a screeching halt, not wanting to get any closer to Gary. "Hold it!" She commanded, her Arcane Rider floating above the Masked Men.
"C-Commander May! We came in haste to assist you!" One of them looked up, gazing at May who returned that gaze back.
"As I thought." She then faced Gary with a curious look, seeing the followers who stood behind Gary. "Hmph. A few of those crazed supporters. And one of the Prodigies as well. The Prodigy Trainer, right? Gary Oak."
"Hm." Gary moved his head back, smiling before placing his hand in his pocket. "Wondering if I'm a threat? You wouldn't be wrong there."
"Bah! As if that mattered!" Another Masked Man snapped, raising his whip high. "This guy's involved with tearing down some of our camps! Commanders Aeroblast, Steel Knight and even the Wave Commander! All were taken down by this guy!"
"Is that so?" May raised an eyebrow, staying completely unamused. "Pretty amazing for a prodigy."
"What can I say? I'm part of a rising generation of Prodigies." Gary rubbed his nose before having a serious expression on his face. "Now let's put an end to this. I already freed the enslaved people here. You're done here, so pack it up."
"Trying to establish a claim around here, are we? Not when our camps are complete. Commander May will stop you in the name of Auravale!"
"Wait." May would suddenly dismount from her Arcane Rider, gracefully landing next to the Masked Man. She placed her hands on her hips, taking a hard stare at Gary Oak. "Gary Oak. What is your motive? How are you involved in this?"
Gary had a glare in his eyes, holding his fist in his palm. He tried to gauge May before bringing a genuine answer. "I'm doing it because those Scape Crushers of yours ain't nothing but weapons meant for killing off anything. Of course I'm not gonna stand for it. Duh! You guys and gals at the Auravale Empire aren't ever gonna be in total control. Not with guys like me around.
"You tell 'em, Gary!" His supporters cheered.
"No fear! Stand with the Prodigies!" Another cheered, giving Gary support and help his morale. Gary grinned, hearing them cheer for him. Even if they weren't his family, they'd always act like his friends and supporters. His loyal followers who worshipped his every step.
"Hm. A shame. I've heard things about you here and there, Gary Oak. You're a prodigy for a reason, but it's a shame that Kanto's one of our fiercest enemies. If only you were allied with us, we would have a worthy Prodigy to add to our ranks." May simply turned to the men, leaving her Arcane Rider parked.
"And let me guess...If I join you, you'll destroy those Scape Crushers and leave this place, right?" Gary figured out, tilting his head back.
"Understand this, Gary Oak. Surrender now. You have no idea what you're getting yourself into." May pointed at him, trying to warn him before telling one of the men to explain things.
"Commander May will take you down, Gary Oak! Show him the strength of a Commander!" A masked man turned to May who nodded. "Once she does, there's no way she'll allow anyone to interfere with the Empire's plans."
"Hm." May would then close her eyes, staying silent for a moment. "It was for your own sake. Believe me. But since you're unlikely to back out, I'll have to deal with you at once." She would then reveal a Poke Ball of her own.
"Okay then." Gary grinned, rubbing his nose before taking a deep breath. "Here's my answer! Let's see what you got!" With that, the battle would begin. Gary would raise his hand into the air as his followers cheered.
"Show em, Gary!"
"You're the best!"
"No one beats a Prodigy like Gary Oak!"
The supporters continued to shout out from behind as Gary was all about being front and center. May would send forward one of her Pokemon. In this case, it was a Glaceon. Gary would observe it, taking note of its strength.
Gary, in response, would send his Arcanine forward. The two Pokemon stood ready for a fight. Gary, in a way, was willing to test himself against a Commander for the first time. Someone of a rank to back up what they stood for and fought hard for their own nation.
"Check this out! Arcanine! Use Wild Charge!" Gary commanded as Arcanine glowed a thunderous golden electricity, rushing towards its opponent with a fervent pace.
"Glaceon! Iron Tail! Jump into the air and dodge it!" May ordered as her Pokemon sprung into the air, the Pokemon's tail glowing a metallic white. Arcanine barreled towards Glaceon who unleashed its Iron Tail, striking against Arcanine as sparks flew. The result made Arcanine slam into a wall but Glaceon would fall backwards, slamming into the ground.
"Heheh. Was that all?" Gary taunted, watching his Arcanine shake itself off, picking itself back up. Glaceon landed on its feet before letting out a light yawn, not phased at all. "That Ice-Type shouldn't have much power in that attack!"
"Is that so? Says who?" May questioned as Gary rose an eyebrow. "The world's a lot larger and grander than it seems, Gary Oak. You may be a prodigy but your focus is limited in some regard. I don't need anyone underestimating me. And not Glaceon."
Glaceon let out a small mewl, hopping from one leg to the other before settling down on both its front legs, eager to begin the battle once more. It was like it had no burden or worry, despite how powerful Arcanine was.
"Go, Glaceon! Shadow Ball! Fire it at the ground!" May commanded and Glaceon obeyed, shooting forth a black and purple energy ball. The result was a wave of shadows that would rise up from the ground, and make their way towards Arcanine and Gary's entire group. The girls screeched at the sight of the shadows approaching them.
"H-Hey!" Gary was surprised by the display of Glaceon's Shadow Ball. "Arcanine! Heat Wave! Blow them away!" Gary ordered.
"Glaceon! Mirror Coat!"
Arcanine would inhale deeply before exhaling out a Heat Wave. However, the icy mirror would suddenly appear, shining a mirror-like sheen. Arcanine's Heat Wave was reflected right back at it, hitting Arcanine which was followed by a blinding shockwave. Everyone shut their eyes, shielding themselves from the powerful force before the Heat Wave diminished.
After the smoke cleared, Gary was seen dashing with Arcanine by his side, prompting May and Glaceon to do the same. The two would move while continuing their battle. Gary's Supporters gasped while the Masked Men were on the ground, a bit dazed from the previous shockwave.
"Wait for us, Gary!" His supporters yelled, following him.
"Ah! Don't let them escape!" The Masked Men got back up, promptly pursuing them all. Some of their Pokemon were forced to walk behind them while Gary and May ran across the land.
"Arcanine! Use Crunch!" Gary commanded as Arcanine zoomed in, biting at Glaceon.
"Glaceon! Stop it with Iron Tail!" Glaceon would swing its tail against Arcanine with an amazing speed. Arcanine was slammed back but Gary would follow up.
"That's it! Remember, Arcanine! No Mercy! Once you hit it, blow it back with Flare Blitz!" Arcanine nodded, speeding towards Glaceon. The puppy-like Pokemon would glow in a red flame, bursting straight towards Glaceon at an accelerated pace.
"Use Double Team! And then use Icy Wind!" Multiple clones of Glaceon would surround it, doing as their trainer commanded. The multiple clones of Glaceon would fire Icy Winds at Arcanine, surrounding it.
"You've made it tougher! Flamethrower!" Gary exclaimed as the flamethrower was powerful enough to blow away the ice and burn the illusionary clones. This revealed Glaceon hiding in the middle of the clones, firing an icy wind at Arcanine.
"Again! Flamethrower!" Arcanine lunged forward, firing the flamethrower once more as the winds collided before exploding with force. The landscape around them would turn colder from the combination of attacks clashing. Glaceon would pounce through the smoke, jumping from rock to rock with ease.
May would leap atop a nearby branch while Gary slid down a hill in this dynamic battle. Glaceon would even launch an attack before May commanded something else. "Quick Attack and Iron Tail! Give that Arcanine no time to breathe!" Glaceon, being the agile Pokemon it was, sped up and darted towards the large Arcanine.
"Show me that energy!" Gary yelled out, standing tall as Arcanine roared back.
"Glaceon! Icy Wind!" Glaceon would then fire a flurry of ice shards, and although Arcanine had superior speed, Glaceon was proving to be faster. Gary would smirk, already knowing what to do. "What's so funny?" May inquired before Gary said it was nothing.
"Just got some tricks up my sleeve!" Gary taunted as Arcanine growled. The growling Arcanine suddenly disappeared with a bright flash of light, shocking everyone present. Before Glaceon could realize what was happening, Glaceon was suddenly struck hard by Arcanine, sending it flying and falling back.
"Hm?!" May gasped, not anticipating that one. Even her own followers seemed shocked.
"And that's Superpower!" Gary announced before ordering another command. "Now, Arcanine! Use Flare Blitz!" Arcanine's fiery coat of flames would turn a blue inferno, charging right at the Glaceon who tried to recover.
"Glaceon! Get back!" Glaceon could react fast enough. Arcanine crashed into the Pokemon, slamming it against the tree. Arcanine shook itself off before kicking back, blowing up a light dust of dirt from behind.
Glaceon would faint, landing near May's feet. The first one to lose a Pokemon was May's. She looked down at her feet before narrowing her eyes, facing Gary and Arcanine.
"Hah. That's that!" Gary flicked his hair. "Not to shabby if I do say so myself!
"Hmph!" May sent forth her next Pokemon, taking out a new Poke Ball. "It isn't over yet. I'll show you the true might of a commander with my best!" She then sent forth her Pokemon, a Blaziken. It had an intimidating appearance, standing over her as it stepped towards Arcanine.
Gary glanced up and watched it rise its fists into the air, challenging Arcanine with its very presence. It was an intimidating Pokemon, he knew that for sure.
"Now then. Let's finish this, Gary Oak." May was willing to put up more of a fight.
"No problem. No reason I'll step down." Gary was equally prepared to put up a fight. No mercy was a thing he liked to follow. "Especially when a Commander is giving me a fight. Good way to show just how great I am. I'm a Prodigy after all!" Gary grinned, his supporters cheering for him as Gary stood proud.
Arcanine roared, roaring before the fight truly began. Two more Pokemon were about to enter this fray.
"That so? Then, I'll show you how even prodigies can fail. Burn everything. Burn it into ashes!" May outstretched her arms, suddenly drawing on her own Aura. A blazing aura erupted from her body and around the area before coalescing around her.
Her eyes would then glow as her power was resonating with Blaziken's. Like a raging inferno, May's Aura flared to life, rising and rising as she was certainly going all out in this instance.
The area began to tremble as the supporters all screeched, feeling the heat around the land. The Masked Men fell over while shouting, "Commander May's Aura! It's still so blazing!"
The dust around the area would be blown away, parting ways as the trees snapped from the pressure being released here. The lake was crackling from the heat that was growing in this area. Gary looked back, watching this all happen. He'd grin, pumping himself up. He figured that he should try and match such power as well.
With a breath, Gary crossed his arms before looking up to the skies. "Alright! So you're giving it your all. Then, for now on, let's raise the bar!"
Gary's own Aura would be awakened, rising as the wind blew. The ground under his feet would create small cracks as his Aura began flowing more and more, rising until it matched May's energy output.
Both of their Pokemon would step forward, auras flaring. They received a great boost because of this, feeling faster and stronger than before, ready to unleash even more devastating attacks.
"Check it! It's Star Showdown!" One of Gary's supporters cheered while the Masked Men gawked at such power.
"I-Impossible! Can he really match Commander May's strength?! The force she uses that matches her rank and status?!" A masked man shouted as some of the women at the followers would drool.
"Gary...! Gary! My beloved!" Gary's Support would clench their chests, feeling weak to their knees.
"Such power! One would be a fool to mess with a Pokemon and its Trainer with this much power. His Aura, his strength...It shows his sheer will to protect this world!" Another supporter shouted as the winds around them were picking up. "Oh, he's so dreamy!"
"And the coolest!"
"He's the best! The coolest and strongest!" The other supporter gave out cheers as her friend fanned herself.
"You ready, beautiful?" Gary said to May with a smirk. "With this, I can't lose!"
"For me, I can't afford to lose." May replied with a stoic face. "For what I'm aiming for...I will not lose to anyone! Show him, Blaziken! Blaze Kick!"
"Be stronger than anyone else, Arcanine!" Gary commanded. "Flare Blitz!"
May jumped, rushing towards Gary as Arcanine matched the movements of its trainer, barreling towards Blaziken. The two Pokemon would kick each other with equal strength, using both of their powerful blows to hurt their opponent. There was no stopping them, not now. This battle needed to be concluded.
But even in battle, not everything could be predicted. May anticipated a wild, straightforward clash and yet, Gary was a lot smarter than she anticipated. For once, May met a challenge as the entire battlefield would soon erupt, creating a massive explosion from the combined strength between the Pokemon.
Gary grinned, putting on a display of that cocky confidence. But May was only just getting started. Blaziken suddenly moved at blinding speeds. Speeds that caught Arcanine off guard. The Fire-Fighting-Type dashed through the smoke in a brilliant display of blinding speed before appearing behind Arcanine, smashing its own foot into it.
Blaziken gave it no time to rebut, quickly pivoting as it kicked Arcanine right in its belly, leaving Blaziken stunned for a moment from using up all that energy. Meanwhile, Arcanine was recovering its senses from the attack.
"Use Flare Blitz!" Before May could give another command, Gary spoke up once more, ordering his Pokemon as Arcanine quickly snapped to its senses. It rushed towards Blaziken with a blue flame wrapped around its body. It turned the rest of its body into a single point, becoming unmatched in speed.
In an instant, Blaziken tried to react, but there was no time to dodge. Arcanine slammed into it, exploding with a powerful force that rocked the land, sending out a blast wave and lighting the land aflame with the release of energy.
Like Arcanine, Blaziken was affected by it, flailing to the ground with sparks flickering from its eyes. Being hit with an attack like Flare Blitz would be deadly for most Pokemon, especially at the speeds that Arcanine was able to accelerate.
"And we end it there!" Gary yelled, raising a fist into the air, spinning before blowing against his finger, grinning. Gary's companions all made noises of approval as May gazed down. Blaziken was able to pick itself up, looking up at May who nodded.
"Go, Blaziken! Close Combat!" May commanded as Blaziken nodded, speeding up towards Arcanine at lightning fast speed. The impact would make the ground underneath Blaziken crack a little, breaking from the mighty strength and even knocking up some dirt.
As it did, Blaziken utilized its full momentum to slam its fist back into Arcanine's neck before Blaziken swung to the other side and jabbed Arcanine in the back of the knee. Arcanine managed to catch the next hit, headbutting an overhead strike from Blaziken.
The clash had such force behind it that it created a gust of wind. Gary covered his face with his arm, feeling the wind blow in his direction as it would carry his supporters in the air. May narrowed her eyes as the wind pressures intensified, bringing down various trees around here and causing boulders to start rising up. She'd cross her arms, lowering her body so that the wind would not blow her away.
"This is getting a bit out of control!" Gary chuckled, seeing how quick this was escalating. He would jump back, avoiding a falling tree while May would step back. So would Arcanine and Blaziken, who were both pushed back by their own clash. This part of the area was starting to fall apart.
Gary looked back, seeing all his supporters in danger with all of this intensity. He then looked at May and then back at the supporters who were trying to make it back on their feet. Arcanine came back to its senses, gazing at its friends. At that moment, all he wanted to do was protect his followers.
"Not good! Quick, Arcanine!" Gary dashed in the opposite direction, along with Arcanine. May would pause, as would the rest of the Masked Men who watched this unfold. Gary Oak would jump, grabbing hold of one of his followers. He'd protect her from the various falling debris which would roll in the way of May's group.
Everything around this area came crashing down, giving Gary the chance to bring his supporters to safety. While he enjoyed their support, it was best to send them somewhere else. May watched as Gary would vanish from her sight, heading elsewhere.
"He won't get away from me." May commented, facing the Masked Men. They'd all nod as May would set off, now looking to use the flames of this land to catch up to him. Arcanine could handle itself, but she wasn't looking to let Gary escape after witnessing this strength. Speaking of flames, their battle ended up causing an array of flames to start spreading, already dealing more damage to area while also moving forward, threatening to damage the rest of it.
Misty, Bea and Brock have succeeded in freeing everyone enslaved, but now had a massive issue of getting everyone to safety. Not just freeing them would lead to problems, but finding their home region was going to cause some problems. But while helping them, in the distance, they saw a massive smoke cloud. A sign of destruction was about to occur.
"Huh...?! No way...I think a battle's going on!" Misty gazed at the smoke. This was obviously caused by Gary and May's clash.
"From those explosions? Yikes...I bet the place is about to fall apart." Brock commented. The other slaves, which included their Pokemon, all flinched, intimidated by what was happening.
"Such strength..." Bea gawked before running over to the scene, needing to know what was going on.
"Bea! Wait!" Misty ran ahead while Brock aided everyone else.
"Everyone. Stay close to me. We'll be fine. Now's not the time to flee." Brock told everyone to stay calm, running ahead so that they would make it out. No doubt that they would have to hurry if they planned on making it out of this land. With May and Gary unleashing so much raw power, the chances of their escape were cut down with this going on.
With such force and a battle like this, it wouldn't be hard to conclude. Their chance of escaping would be difficult with this power on hand.
Bea kept moving until she came across the result of May and Gary's battle and how much destruction it caused. Her eyes widened, seeing the flames and the ground breaking apart, creating a vortex of energy that was clearly the leftover energy used from both Pokemon and their trainers.
"That's...wow...! That power is absolutely massive!" Bea was in awe, seeing the intensity of the destruction. While May and Gary were elsewhere, they left an impact upon the land and now fires were raging out of control all around them.
Misty caught up with Bea, soon gazing at the destruction. "I-It's a mess! What kind of battle took place here? Whatever happened, that's...crazy!"
Bea nodded, being wide-eyed at the mess. Flames and debris filled the sky, with ashes floating by. Trees began to topple over, slamming into the ground. "Such intensity..."
"This is gonna make it a lot harder to get these people home." Misty stated, unable to believe the massiveness of the destruction. "Especially if something like this can happen. Gary might've been involved in a battle...but against who?"
As they gazed at the destruction before them, creeping up on them were some of the Masked Men. When searching for Gary, they ended up coming across these two instead. With their whips out, the Masked Men intended on taking down both of them. It was best to show mercy to no one involved with any issues relating to the Auravale Empire.
Bea sensed the danger before hearing the crack of a whip which made Misty jolt. Bea would jump in, managing to deflect one of them, but another grabbed onto her wrist. Another whip would wrap around Misty's waist, yanking her away. "Hey!" Misty huffed as Bea stepped back.
"You're the ones that are with the Star Champion!" One of the masked men yelled out, cracking the whip that was wrapped around Misty's waist. "No mercy to anyone that's opposing the great Auravale Empire! Capture those two! Take their Pokemon too!"
With no time to react, Misty and Bea found themselves surrounded by men and their Pokemon. Bea tried removing the whip from her wrist, only for another wrap around her legs, and knocking her down. "Bea!" Misty shouted before realizing the current position they were in.
Both of them were in danger. If they struggled any further, things would become worse for them, even if they did free many of the slaves in the other areas.
"They aren't Gary Oak, but they're still important. They were with the Star Champion. Take these two in. Commander May will have questions for them!" One of the masked men called out, cracking the whip while forcing Misty to her feet.
The two girls growled, feeling themselves being pulled away and away from their Pokemon. With the Slaves being under Brock's surveillance, he was a bit behind, moving at a slower pace for their sake. Alas, that just meant Brock was too late to see what was gong on and where Misty and Bea were taken off to.
Once he arrived, Brock saw the destruction, but not sign of Bea and Misty. "Misty?! Bea!? Where are you!? Misty!" He called out, seeing the flaming mess that was left behind. The damage looked fresh, leaving no doubt that a ferocious battle just took place.
"What happened here..." Brock had to wonder, gazing at the damage that was done before sensing a group of energy signatures. It was energy he picked up from before when walking into that camp. He suddenly turned, seeing other masked men approaching.
"You...!" Brock recognized them as his eyes narrowed. Some of the slaves recognized them, quickly going into a defensive stance with their own Pokemon. One of the masked men snorted, laughing loudly.
"Looks like we're just finding them all, aren't we? That's another Pokemon Lord from Kanto. You guys have terrible luck." The masked man sneered as the slaves trembled. They weren't properly trained to handle such a situation, but to protect each other, they needed to band together.
"Hmph!" Brock stood in front of all the slaves, protectively standing before them. Even with no Pokemon, he could protect them. "If it's a fight you want. Then you'll have a hard time getting me."
It would be Brock against these Masked Men, but the battle would not be easy. Not with all of these innocents behind him.
"Ugh!" Misty groaned as she was pushed to the floor along with Bea. The two had been brought to another camp near the coast.
Bea looked up to see how vast this base was, built close to the sea as the sounds of the waves crashed on the cliffside. There were several other camps spotted within the horizon. "There's so many." Bea shook, not expecting to find a place with so many Scape Crushers. If things kept going at this rate, there could be a thousand in one camp.
"Now stay here, you two. Commander May is present, so she'll be having a word with you. Enjoy your time here while you can." One of the Masked Men snapped as Misty glared back.
"You...!" Misty snarled. "You guys are just the worst! Destroying the land, bringing harm to people who have nothing to do with you...! And hurting people's Pokemon to make a weapon?! Just how crazy are you all?!"
"Hm. Says the one who defied our Auravale Empire." The masked man snapped. "You all will come to see things clearly. Soon enough, you'll see how right we are and how you should have complied. After all, we rule a majority of the world. We're the rightful rulers here."
"Like you would ever...!" Misty stood up, growling at them all. "All the other regions that go against your Empire know that's not true! That's why we're fighting hard against your region and other regions that are with the Auravale Empire!"
"Hmph!" The Masked Man raised his whip. "The nerve. Just trying to make this complicated."
"You! Try any of that...!" Misty scowled. But before she could make a move, someone's voice boomed in their area. It was May's voice as she called for the Masked Men to draw back.
"Knock it off!" May snapped at the Masked Men. Halting her pursuit of Gary, she arrived at the scene, only to find more members of Kanto here. So it seemed like a good time to check up on them. It's not like they could go after Gary with such little information.
"C-Commander May!" One of the men gulped. "Yes, Commander. It seems we have two hostages of sorts. These girls. With the Star Champion."
"These two are with the Star Champion?" May then glanced at Misty specifically, narrowing her eyes. "Hm. Looks like one of them is a Pokemon Lord. I recognize you as Misty of Cerulean. Is that correct?"
Misty gazed at May, unsure of who she was, although she had an idea that it was one of the supposed Commanders. Misty kept a close eye on her, not wanting to say anything to reveal anything to them.
"That's right." Misty snapped, tilting her head. "So, who're you all supposed to be?"
"May. Commander May Petalburg of the Hoenn Kingdom." May revealed herself. "You two have made a huge mistake showing up in this secluded area. After all, this is Auravale Property."
"And to me, it looks like a site filled with scumbags who want to destroy the land for some sort of twisted ideology." Misty raised an eyebrow, making Bea internally wince from Misty's snarky attitude.
"They're already tied up. I'm sure this won't take long." One of the masked men said. "Let's make them work for us too, Commander."
"Yeah. Plus it'll get us to the Star Champion too if we use them as ransom." Another mentioned. May lowered her head, thinking to herself. They could, but this was a dangerous game to play with someone like the Star Champion. Still, a Pokemon Lord would be more valuable than any of the slaves they had.
"Misty. I'd like to talk to you only." May pointed at her. "So the rest of you. Leave. I have some things to speak about with her. It's a Commander's request."
"Leave?" One of the masked men seemed hesitant. "Should we really be taking orders for this...?"
"This is how it will go, in order to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. You'll listen to me." May stared at the masked man, seeing him stumble back. "It's the best chance we have. Now, go on."
The masked men were reluctant, but bowed before her, retreating back from their area. May hummed, placing her hands on her hips as she looked down at the two girls. "You shouldn't have come here. Both of you. If you had just left the area while you still could, this situation would've been avoided."
"And leave all the people here to their fates?" Misty refused to acknowledge that possibility. "So we may have to put our lives on the line to save them. So be it."
May stared down at Misty before glancing at Bea. "And you. You don't look like a Pokemon Lord at all. Are you another slave? A former one?"
"I was a slave to Volman, but I'm free. His kingdom has already fallen, thanks to Master." Bea answered. "I'd rather stay with these people. And as long as you're opposing our master, I won't help your cause."
"Hm." May smiled, putting her hands behind her back. "The fact that the Star Champion is actually real...And you two are with him at the moment. And to think he's somewhere here right now. He's already freed many camps, hasn't he?"
"Yeah..." Misty held her arm, leaning back.
"I see. As expected from him." May closed her eyes. "It's only been a few days since his arrival and yet he's already made waves. Those legends are true..."
"Why are you saying this like you care or something?" Misty questioned. "You're with the Auravale Empire. From the sound of it, their men look up to you. If you have something to say, say it."
"I'm with Auravale. But my goals aren't the same as the Empire's larger objective." May quickly answered before opening her eyes, surprising Misty and Bea.
"W-What do you mean by that?" Bea stuttered.
"If I wanted to, I could have you all work for me without a second thought. Or even make you work for the Auravale Empire...but that's not what I want. After all, I wanted to chat with you two. You're with the Star Champion after all. The Legendary Figure who many prayed too during their darkest times. I want to talk to you about him."
"About what?" Misty frowned. She didn't like May's questions. No matter how 'civil' she was trying to be, she still was working for an evil empire. There was no way Misty could trust her fully. May would then take a deep breath, saying what she wanted to say.
"Listen closely. All of this...the work to create a weapon such as the Scape Crushers, the enslavement of civilians. It's not something I want. Taking them from their homes to build such a dangerous thing isn't my intention. Not even as part of the Empire's goals is something that I want."
"How do we know that you're not lying to us? Just saying these words to get on our good side. Aren't you a commander? It should be your job to be under the Empire's commands. What makes you any different?" Misty growled.
"What makes me different? I have to do this. To reach my goal, I have to play the role of a dutiful member of the Empire. For 5 years I've been keeping it up.
"W-What?! Are you saying...you're just playing a role? You're not actually on their side? You're on our side?" Misty was shocked. "No, no way..."
"I'm doing this for the innocents. All the people captured and sent here to work on the Scape Crushers...I'm here to try and free them. That's one major part of my goal. After all, I used to be a slave myself."
"You were a slave too?" Bea stepped forward.
"I was. The Empire, much like what it's done with the people and their villages, came to my own and captured me. It was a Mass Recruitment according to them. Where they went to various towns and cities in many regions, even taking advantage of those Villages and ripping them apart for their own goals."
May began recalling the past. The day she was taken from her home.
It was around 8 Years Ago. May's village was known as Petalburg Village, located near Petalburg Woods. Ever since she was born, she spent her time inside the house while others in her village tended to their respective businesses. From baking to taking care of farmland, the villagers lived peacefully in this small part of Hoenn. They kept to themselves and didn't involve themselves in the politics.
This small place was where she grew up. May would always tend to the garden with her mom and looked after the Pokemon found nearby. Her family was always focused on supporting the growth of their village, and ensuring everything was cared for. Over the years, she would feel at ease by doing this and enjoyed doing it.
"It was a nice life. Even if I could ask for more, the life I was living was good enough. I was happy, and for the longest time, it didn't seem like anything would go wrong." May recalled fondly.
But that was when it happened. When the Auravale Empire found itself having a raid on the Petalburg Village. May could recall that day.
Soldiers marched into the village, dressed in green and having many powerful Pokemon supporting them. They had a similar logo to the Masks men that the three girls had recently encountered. This emblem was shown on their flags.
All the villagers looked concerned and had fear in their eyes, but then a Commander stepped out. Who looked as ruthless as any other Auravale soldier and commanded everyone to freeze.
"Petalburg Village and all its inhabitants will be put under the jurisdiction of the great Auravale Empire! A Mass Recruitment Program is on offer! Should anyone fail to comply with these orders, they will be deemed enemies of the Empire and no mercy will be shown to them!" One of the solder's shouted, holding his hands close to the belt of his sheathed sword.
The Petalburg Villagers were sent into a panic, screaming as the soldiers got into their homes, and even the gardens. Some of the nearby Pokemon tried to put up a fight, but the sheer number of their foes along with the Pokemon the soldiers controlled, it was all in vain. Anything opposing the empire was killed immediately, with their body left to bleed out. Nothing was held back.
The village was easily taken over without a moment's notice, and the people were all herded together by their necks, all stripped of their properties. Among them was May, who was not chosen to be a part of this Mass Recruitment and instead forced to become a slave. Her mother and father, despite their protests, were taken in.
For days they were moved from place to place and forced to start off construction of camps, like the ones they were seeing all around them. Misty and Bea shuddered from such information.
"We didn't just start building camps either. After we were forcefully brought in as slaves, we were all made to carry lumber, making ourselves nothing more than workers."
May watched as the site for the camp was being built. Just outside of an area was Petalburg Village, and most of her family members would watch in sadness as the location for one of the several camps was made. She would just watch in disgust, seeing the commander ordering everyone where to place the timber logs.
"Work it out, now! We'll bring in more soon!" A commander remarked. "With it, we'll continue building our new addition to our Empire! We'll add it to the rest of our list of sites!"
"There's more?!" May gasped, struggling to stand on her legs, hands grasped to the bar on her arms. "How...many camps are there?!"
"Aren't you a chatty one? Heh, the fact that I can't torture you is disappointing...but yes. Most of these camps and more. None of you will be safe for long."
And unfortunately for May, for speaking up, she would receive punishment. The common form of punishment she received was an attack from the Pokemon. For that instance, it was a Skarmory who would smack her across her face, knocking her off her feet and onto the dirt. Some of the other men would even say, "Hey! Can't she see that her village should've died, instead of living?!"
"All the villagers, including herself are herded, forced to build the camp, and do whatever work possible. For her first days, she was forced to carry supplies, have wood fall and cut her. Almost like the beginning of a cruel ritual."
Over time, May had no choice but to endure the work that had to be done, and to accept being hurt whenever a mistake was made. That was the way of life as a slave. However, the ones in charge of the camp also noticed that May's family had run off. While some were saved, May's mother and father were reported missing. They'd be subjected to much worse if they were found by Auravale forces.
"Found them?" One of them asked.
"No. They probably got eaten by a Gyarados or something." Another replied. May would sit there with downed expression, listening to their conversation. What if her family had met such a fate? She could only worry for them, but part of her wished they could save her. But no one came to save her that day.
Things did not get better for her, even if time began to pass as she was forced to focus on working on a large Scape Crusher. The bigger they made these and the more they bred, the faster they could complete all these Scape Crushers. It got to the point where a haunting order was made. An order to increase the number of workers for the foreseeable future.
And that obviously meant two things would occur. May and all the women here would be paired up and need to make children. Being born to the Empire would mean that whoever was born would also become a slave.
"Across the Auravale Empire, a huge emphasis on the foreseeable future exists. Breeding Camps and arranged marriages are heavy and my home was soon to receive that same process."
The Auravale Empire had a strong emphasis on the forseeable future, having breeding camps everywhere it controlled. May, herself, had to witness the conditions women suffered in the Empire. Things couldn't just be handed out to slaves. Those from the Empire itself and those who had loyalty, they received better treatment.
May was already paired up with someone to be bred and become a personal slave to. Someone she didn't choose and couldn't deny, unless she wanted further punishment. Whoever she was paired up with didn't care at all, just smirking and forcing May to follow her along. She was brought to the man's chambers, standing before him, unable to do anything.
"So, you're the one that I'm going to get to test out." A man said, smiling as he eyed May, observing her curves and how nervous she was. He wanted to have some fun with her, taking her hand. As he smirked, May chose not to react or say anything before he kissed her on the lips.
It became clear what would happen next. This was the life of a slave within the Empire. She would have to endure anything that these masters would decide for her. It didn't get much better from that day on. For some time, May would have to bear with it, simply because the thought of being freed was a possibility. She had no choice but to obey the people that ruled this domain and create a Scape Crushes if she wanted any chance to survive.
All of the slaves had to do whatever it takes to stay alive.
"I'll take my time with you. I won't let you birth a child just yet. I want to savour the experience...The fun of torturing you is delicious! One of the best things of this life."
May would have to deal with this, and over time, as time passed, she continued doing this. She had yet to have intercourse with him, only havng her body fondled, stripped and violated a bit. It was an awful time and things were about to get worse for her.
One day, she learned of some of her closest friends already being bred with children being on the way soon. Right before her eyes, May saw her many friends absolutely broken after carrying a child, being completely different people afterwards. It brought her to tears.
"May...You should hurry and join us." One of her friends would say, gripping her head. May looked at her friends, finding it hard to recognize them as even her close friends. They wore a lifeless look in their eyes, reduced to mere shells. Her other close friend said nothing, simply shuddering as she was still enduring what happened to her. May had only seen them once every few days, which was often enough for her to realize the state that they were in.
May felt her world coming down, not sure what to even do anymore. Many of the others said nothing, either because they were too weak to speak, too tired, or simply too hungry to do much else. So, there was one idea that came to mind eventually.
"I felt so weak. So...I decided to join the Empire."The horrible realization that I was alone in all of this...just brought me to a dark place. This isn't the kind of life I had, but in that moment, I had to play the role."
May's tears were wiped away as a fierce stare emerged, seeing all her comrades locked up in cages. The Auravale Empire's symbol was everywhere, all built at a place of her very home. Along with this, her goal of escape had to be achieved sooner or later. This was the only choice she felt was needed.
To become stronger
To defeat the Empire
For this goal, May would need power, and quite a bit of it. It'd be easier to accumulate this power if she could work her way up the ladder. While she was laughed at at first for wanting to gain a position of command, she was accepted in the long run. It'd take a while, but as it was for any other grunt, it had to be done.
"So I played the role well, so well to the point where they wanted me in their ranks. For 5 whole years, I worked hard to become who I am today. I accepted that I was now a part of the Empire's structure, but that goal never changed for me. I took everything I learned, took the suffering I had to endure, and fought to increase my own strength."
May wanted her revenge. She wasn't going to let her entire hometown suffer this fate, not after watching the state everyone around her was in. After all, a life of indentured servitude, even with the freedom to travel was still slavery, period. Not even Pokemon could turn their eye from this.
So May knew it was time for her to fight back, and to grow stronger.
"That is my reason. Against all odds, I rose up and I did earn my position. As a commander, I'm giving myself such a place. This is how I'm ensuring that my goal is complete. Do you get it, now? Joining the Empire was my best decision..."
May had arrived at that point after many struggles. Misty gasped and Bea kept staring at her. It was...saddening to know that this was the fate that many were subjected too. May slowly approached Misty and Bea, her past self fading. A determined gleam would appear in her eyes.
"So now that you understand, let me give you all an offer." May held her hand out to them. "Before it's too late, you can stop all of this and join me. Work for me, help me end all of this suffering. Only once these people are freed, will I be able to move on and avenge everything and everyone I've lost."
"Join you? I..." Misty gasped as May nodded. Even Bea was surprised.
"Join us. We can save everyone before they're enslaved. Before there's any reason for this atrocity to continue. I've been here so long. And I haven't even had a chance to see those that I know in Kanto. To bring down this place is all that matters. After that, we can enjoy the rest of our lives." May finished, smiling. Misty stared at May, not sure what to think.
But then...
"Why are you showing mercy to us? Even asking for our help? Is that to try and buy our sympathy or whatever?" Misty scowled. "I just can't believe this is just to try and make us help you."
May lowered her hand, seeing that this was what she expected. "...I've tried this with other Pokemon Lords and such, trying to get them on our side. So many have turned it all down and decided it wasn't worth it."
"No duh!" Misty bellowed. "We want to stop all of this too...but joining the Auravale Empire? There's no way we can ever agree to that. To join up and work for you. The thought of working under you makes my skin crawl.
"It's the only way. You have no idea how powerful the Auravale Empire really is. The power they have is out of this world. The time I've spent as a commander, showed me what they're capable of. Only if you join us, only then can you stop their growth. Because making this Empire stop is something that will only happen when we bring it down. Do you really expect their Emperor to listen to demands?"
"I get where you're coming from, but there's no way we'll ever join that empire." Misty and Bea could never just pretend that May's 'past' of being a commander never happened. They didn't want any ties to the Auravale Empire. It'd be betraying their beliefs and everything they strived for. Especially Misty, who has worked hard to combat the Auravale Empire. "They're the absolute worst and I'm never going to consider your side, no matter how you phrase it. If you also knew my history with that Empire..."
"Figures..." May sighed. "I take that option is closed to me. Not willing to open their ears to reality, yet not wanting to suffer like everyone else...Hmph. In that case, you might end up as my enemy."
"Listen!" Bea stepped forward. "I was a slave as well! So were Nessa and Goh! But we'd never let ourselves give in to the Empire...! And you should know that! To join them, to even pretend is wrong!"
"Ugh, you're missing the point. Why won't any of you listen to me...?! Are you all that proud?!" May shouted, punching a wall nearby. "Taking on the Empire in your approach is pointless! You have no idea just how strong they are! You have no idea!"
"In that case..." Misty paused for a moment. "Let's decide this with a battle! Just one battle!"
"What...?" May turned. "You think that'll solve our issues?"
"Yes! Once I show you how strong we can be and why trusting the Empire is a dumb idea, you'll see! You'll get why we can't do it." Misty answered confidently. "Plus, I won't get anywhere without battling!"
"Commander May!" One of the Masked Men ran in, interrupting this conversation. "Trouble! One part of our group has managed to track down Gary Oak, but another says that the Star Champion is near!"
"Hmph." May faced him. "In that case, keep these two here. Until I get back...You're going to be stuck here for now. So just wait...I'll answer you, later."
"Never." But Bea, refusing to be held captive by anyone else especially after Volman, clenched her fists, running at May. She as disgusted. Disgusted that someone like May, who was in a similar positon as her, would even think of this. Bea felt like snapping some sense into her, running at May with an incoming punch.
Her attack caught May off guard as she didn't even have a chance to react to the attack. Bea swung her arm, crashing it across May's face as the commander went stumbling back.
"I won't let someone like you who's suffered that much continue on this path!" Bea yelled at May, who held her cheek. The Masked Men watched in shock, feeling fury themselves and wanting to take May's side.
"Hmph." May glanced back at Bea. "And I won't let someone like you seal their fate by following a doomed path. Men. Knock them out. We're leaving for now..."
"May." Misty stepped back, realizing that this all happened in a flash. The Masked Men approached the two girls, ready to knock them out so that they would stay silent until May came back to finish their discussion.
But obviously, Misty and Bea weren't about to let this happen. The two of them stood together, both ready to fight back. Bea gazed at Misty, catching her eyes and nodding.
They aimed to break free out of here and reunite with the Star Champion and the others. But at the same time, Misty couldn't help but think of May at the moment and everything she's learned from her.